Air conditioner closure panel



June 18, 1968 RIP. PERRY AIR CONDITIONER CLOSURE PANEL Filed June 11,1965 INVENTOR ROBERT E PERRY ATTORNEYS I United States Patent 3,388,520AIR CONDITIONER CLOSURE PANEL Robert P. Perry, Greenville, Mich.,assignor to White Consolidated Industries, Inc., a corporation ofDelaware Filed June 11, 1965, Ser. No. 463,287 1 Claim. (Cl. 52-511)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A removable winter cover for the front of aWindow air conditioner, the cover being detachably secured to the airconditioner by spring clips.

This invention relates to air conditioners and more particularly toimproved apparatus for closing and sealing air conditioners,particularly window units, during periods of non-use.

Most, if not all, window air conditioners incorporate passages forsupplying fresh air from the outside atmosphere to the room in which theair conditioners are installed. It is difficult to assure completeclosing and sealing of such passages when they are not in use. All airconditioners also permit a certain amount of air leakage through themwhen they are not in use because of the imperfect sealing between theevaporator and condenser air circuits which are in communication,respectively, with the interior of the room and the outdoor atmosphere.This air leakage during the winter months increases heating costs and isa source of discomfort.

The adjustable louvers provided in most air conditioners cannot beclosed tightly enough to provide an effective seal to prevent theobjectionable cold drafts and heating losses. Also, despite improvementsin design, air conditioners are to some extent unsightly and theircomplete or partial concealment is highly desirable during extendedperiods of non-use.

With these considerations in mind it is a principal purpose and objectof the invention to provide improved devices for sealing and closing airconditioner units during periods of non-use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide improved airconditioner closure units which effectively seal the entire airconditioner, which may be quickly and easily installed or removed asdesired, and which are of inexpensive construction.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent as thedescription proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view partially broken away illustrating atypical installation of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the unit shown in FIG- URE 1 also withparts broken away to show details;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken along line3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken along 5-5of FIGURE 4.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 1-3 of the drawings, FIGURE 1illustrates a typical installation of a window air conditioner theremovable front panel of which is indicated generally at 10. The airconditioner is installed in a window opening formed by a sill member 12and window side members 14 and 16. In accordance with conventionalpractice the bottom rail 17 of the window sash rests against the top ofthe air conditioner. The spaces between the sides of the air conditionercabinet and the side window rails 14 and 16 are closed and sealed bypanels 18 and 20, respectively.

The air conditioner and its front panel assembly 10 per se are ofessentially conventional construction and the latter is provided with aset of horizontal fixed louvers 22 which extend horizontally across theunit from side to side forming an air intake opening. The air outletsection of the air conditioner is formed by a series of adjustablelouvers 24 which extend horizontally across the unit above the louvers22. The front edges of the louvers are substantially flush with thealigned planar front surfaces 26 and 28 of the side walls of the airconditioner front panel. The upper and lower edges of the front openingof the air conditioner are formed by projecting portions 30 and 32 ofthe top and bottom walls, respectively, of the front panel assembly.These projecting portions have facin g fiat surfaces 34 and 36,respectively.

The present invention provides in cooperation with the previouslydescribed air conditioner structure a sealing cover assembly indicatedgenerally at 38 which is adapted to close and seal the entire front airconditioner opening. The assembly 38 comprises a fiat panel 40 ofpressed board, masonite, or the like, preferably carrying a decorativefront cover of wood grained paper or veneer to enhance its appearance.The panel 40 is so dimensioned that its upper and lower edges arereceived with a sliding fit between the opposed surfaces 34 and 36 ofthe top and bottom walls of the air conditioner front panel and its endedges are substantially flush with the outer surfaces of the side wallsof the air conditioner front panel.

The panel 40 is detachably secured in place by a pair of identicalconnectors 42 which are fabricated from one of a number of resilientplastics. These connectors comprise a channel 44, the width of which isslightly less than the width of the panel 40. Projecting from one faceof the channel 44 are pairs of clips 46 provided with hook portions 48,which, as best shown in FIGURE 2, are adapted to engage the rear edgesof adjacent pairs of louvers 22. The relative spacing of the clips 46and the louvers 22 is such that when the unit is installed, the clipsprovide a resilient lock.

The connector assemblies 42 are installed on the opposite vertical edgesof the panel 40 by sliding them over the end panel edges where they arefrictionally held in place. As best shown in FIGURE 3 the rear surfaceof the panel 40 is provided with recesses 50 (one shown) in which theinner leg of the channel 44 is received so that the entire rear surfaceof the panel assembly including the connectors 42 is co-planar.

The front panel assembly may be installed by pushing it inwardly towardthe body of the air conditioner until the clips 46 lock in place. Whenso installed the front cover provides a wind and leather tight sealcompletely covering the front opening of the air conditioner and at thesame time substantially enhancing the appearance of the air conditioningunit. If desired, the panel may be provided with weather strippingaround its edges to enhance its sealing properties. Ordinarily, however,this additional protection is not required. The front cover assembly maybe removed by simply pulling it outwardly away from the air conditioner.Thus, the unit may be installed or removed in a matter of secondswithout the use of any special tools or techniques.

FIGURES 4 and 5, to which detailed reference shall now be made,illustrate a modified form of the means for attaching the cover assemblyto the air conditioner front panel 10. In this form of the invention theconnection is effected by connector strips indicated generally at 52which extend along the full height of the edges of the panel 40. As bestshown in FIGURE 5 these connector strips 52, which are preferablyfabricated from a plastic having limited resilience, comprise a channelportion 54 adapted to frictionally grip the end edges of the panel 40. Adecorative ridge and groove connection 56 extends forwardly from thechannel portion 54 and a resilient locking finger 58 extends rearwardlyfrom the channel 54. The angle between the channel 54 and the finger 58is somewhat less than 90 when the finger is relaxed. When installed thefinger is yieldably deformed to provide tight frictional engagementbetween the parts. At its end the spring strip or finger 58 is providedwith a locking projection 60 which enhances the frictional grippingaction.

The front cover assembly is completed by the installation of upper andlower sealing strips 64 which extend across the top and bottom edges ofthe panel 40 and, when the unit is installed, sealingly engage theforwardly facing lips 66 which extend along the upper and lower marginsof the front panel 10.

As in the previously described embodiment, the front cover assembly maybe installed by simply pushing it on to the front panel 10. When thelocking formations 60 engage the side edges of the panel, the panel issecurely held in place. The locking engagement of the parts issufficient- 1y strong to prevent accidental dislodgment of the coverassembly but permits easy removal of the front panel assembly by pullingit away from its installed position.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by theappended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaim are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A front cover assembly for an air conditioner having air inlet andoutlet openings peripherally bounded by wall structure includingessentially fiat end walls, said cover assembly comprising a flatimperforate panel having an area essentially equal to the combined areaof said air inlet and air outlet openings, resilient connectorassemblies extending along said panel at the ends thereof, saidconnector assemblies each having a channel frictionally gripping theadjacent edges of said panel and each connector having a resilientlocking finger projecting fromthe plane of said panel, the inclcudedangle between said finger and the plane of said panel being less thanthe edges of said fingers remote from said panel releasably frictionallyengaging said flat end walls thereby frictionally securing said panel tosaid air conditioner, said locking fingers extending substantially fromtop to bottom of said flat end walls and being arranged to permitinstallation or removal of said panel by essentially straight linemotion toward and away from said air conditioner.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,805,712 9/1957 McViker -3693,048,897 8/1962 Slade 49-463 3,283,804 11/1966 Yancey 160-354 1,889,20611/ 1932 Lipschultz 49-465 X 2,270,710 1/1942 Ring 52717 3,064,55011/1962 ODay et a1 49-465 X 3,286,412 11/1966 Greig et al. 49-465 X1,282,281 10/1918 Pennington 312-257 2,191,500 12/1940 Rosling 52-2022,262,670 11/ 1941 Ensminger 52202 2,660,866 12/1953 Tipton et al.62-262 2,714,546 8/ 1955 Lesniak 52-202 X 2,720,683 10/1955 Schwenker eta1 312-257 2,975,491 3/1961 Paul et al. 52-202 HENRY C. SUTHERLAND,Primary Examiner.

FRANK ABBOTT, Examiner.

R. S. VERMUT, Assistant Examiner.

